Improvement in illuminating vault-covers



2Sheets--Sheet1. T. HYATT. Illuminating vault-Covers. No. 145,199. PatentedDec.2-,1873.

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'- Pat No. 145,199. entedDec.2,1873.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC THADDEUS HYATT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ELIZABETH A. L. HYATT, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUMINATING VAULT-COVERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 145,199, dated December 2, 1873; application filed October 22, 1873.

CASE 9.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THADDEUS HYATT, of New York, in the county of New York and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illuminating-Gratings; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making part of this specification, in which--- 7 Figure 1 is a plan view of the upper side of an illuminating vault-cover having its lens protected from wear bymea-ns of overlying strips of rubber. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same upon line 00 a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a form of lens in which the bearings are covered by rubber, and Fig. 4 a crosssection of the same.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

In the use of illuminating vault and area covers, floor-lights, &c., much difliculty is experienced from the abrasion of the upper surfaces of the lenses by dust beneath the feet of pedestrians, such abrasion operating to injure the light-transmitting power of the glass. To obviate this difficulty and insure a firmer bearing for the feet is the design of my invention, which consists in an illuminating vault-cover, floor-light, &c., provided upon its upper bearing-surface with strips or buttons of rubber, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

Although a great variety of forms of rubber bearings can be readily employed, my invention will be sufficiently illustrated, and the principle involved shown, by describing two of such forms.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a vault-cover of usual shape, having inserted Within its central portion a plain glass lens,

B, the upper surface of which is flush with the corresponding portion of said cover. At equidistant points across the surface of the cover are placed a number of strips of rubber, O, which strips are arranged in parallel lines, and are secured to or upon said cover and its lens by cement or other suitable means, and furnish firm bearings for the foot, and at the same time prevent the latter from coming into contact with said lens. As the ends of the rubber strips are most liable to become loosened by use, a lug, a, is cast upon the cover A at the end of each strip, and extends upward sufficiently to relieve said end from pressure or wear.

In Figs. 3 and 4 are shown another form of lens, D, in which the light-reflecting surfaces (1 are protected from wear by means of conical studs, (1, cast upon said lens, and projecting above said surfaces, over each of which studs is placed a rubber cap, E, that receives the foot and prevents contact of the same with said lens.

By the use of the rubber strips or buttons it will be readily seen that the glass lenses are fully protected from abrasion, while a better and more secure foothold is provided.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention,what I claim as new is- An illuminating vault-cover, floor-light, 820., provided upon its upper bearing-surface with strips or buttons of rubber, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of July, 1873.

THADDEUS HYATT. Witnesses:

AMBROSE MoNELL, CHARLES Srm. 

